PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bam Margera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarik Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Margera kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Clutch - The Regulator. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Margera
vs
Johnson

180 cm
36
160 lbs
34 - 21 - 1

184 cm
33
155 lbs
22 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

King of Fists

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 21 - 1, fighting out of New York, Bam Margera!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Tarik Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Margera looks to land a body kick but Johnson moved away.
Johnson with a nice cross.
Margera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Margera.
Margera misses with an uppercut. Johnson saw that one coming.
Jab from Johnson.
Margera lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Margera sprawls well.
Margera blocks a low kick nicely.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Margera swivels and escapes.
Margera connects with a single shot there.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Johnson misses the jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson misses with a straight right.
Johnson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Margera tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Margera to the ground. Margera escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Margera on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Bam Margera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarik Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a lunging right hand
and Margera counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Margera walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Johnson dips to his left and cracks Margera with an uppercut!
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
A low kick from Johnson misses
and Margera counters with a nice uppercut.
Johnson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Johnson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Johnson misses with a hook
and Margera cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Margera throws a body shot but no joy.
Johnson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Margera doesn't seem bothered though.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Margera defending well though.
Margera is trying to control but can't.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Margera defending well though.
Margera is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Margera avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Margera is positioning himself well to prevent Johnson advancing to mount.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Margera tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Margera controlling the position well.
Margera is looking to improve his position.
Johnson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Johnson slips a nice elbow through Margera's hands, connecting with Margera's forehead.
Margera controlling the position for now.
Margera gets back to full guard.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Margera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margera working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Margera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Margera blocks nicely.
Johnson postures up in Margera's guard and throws a big left but Margera blocks it.
Margera is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Margera tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.
Margera managing to control the position.
Margera trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
Margera pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.
Margera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Margera not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Margera's head.
Margera working a defensive guard here.
Margera has Johnson pulled in close to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Margera trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarik Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Margera fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Johnson.
Margera lands an overhand right.
Horrible takedown attempt by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Margera, which made it look bad.
Johnson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Margera can pounce on him.
Margera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Margera swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Johnson there.
Margera throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Margera tried to counter with a leg kick but Johnson avoided it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Margera.
A big left from Johnson misses.
Margera gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Margera sprawls well.
Margera misses with a looping right.
A swing and a miss from Margera.
A slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Margera keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnson.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Margera.
Margera moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson with a nice cross.
Margera throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice cross by Margera.
Margera throws an overhand right that lands on Johnson's shoulder, as Johnson tries to avoid the shot.
Margera lands a jab to the nose.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
Bam Margera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarik Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Margera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Despite the aggression on Johnson's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Margera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Johnson. That did some damage!
Johnson's coach down at LOD-Guts & Glory Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Johnson's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Johnson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Margera finds it's way round the side to connect with Johnson's head.
Margera misses with a hook.
Tarik Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A nice combination there by Johnson.
Margera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Margera throws a body shot but no joy.
Margera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Johnson lands with a hook. Margera tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Johnson misses with a hook
and Margera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Margera pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Margera. Beautiful body shot.
Margera stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Margera wants it to stay on the feet.
Margera moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Margera leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Johnson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Margera avoids nicely.
Margera slips under a jab from Johnson.
Johnson throws a leg kick
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bam Margera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Danga de danga de dang - Johnson scores with a four punch combination!
Margera lands a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Margera half committed to a counter leg kick.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Margera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Good exchange - Margera coming out on top.
Johnson misses with a straight right.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Margera is looking to counter with a body kick.
Margera works Johnson's body with a nice hook.
Johnson misses with a lunging right hand
and Margera counters with a nice uppercut.
Johnson misses with a right hand
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Margera has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Margera there as he acknowledges the shot.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Margera.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson tests Margera's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Johnson cracks Margera with an open hand slap.
Margera takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bam Margera will probably get the nod.
That's time! Margera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

It looks like Bam Margera has been cut.
Johnson misses the body punch
and Margera counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Margera scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Margera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Despite the aggression on Johnson's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Margera was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Johnson with a jab.
Margera scores with a jab. Johnson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Johnson moves out of range as Margera throws a body kick.
Margera throws a jab when Johnson was well out of range.
Johnson looks to throw the jab but Margera is out of range.
Johnson lands a head shot.
Johnson misses with an uppercut. Margera saw that one coming.
Margera showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Margera swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Margera, right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a left hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Margera lands a jab.
Margera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnson was well out of range. Poor timing from Margera.
A little jabbing left from Johnson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Margera misses with an uppercut. Johnson saw that one coming.
Margera looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Margera takes one to the chin there.
Margera throws a nice outside leg kick.
Margera moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Margera misses the target.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1-2. Johnson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Margera misses with a low kick as Johnson jumps back.
Margera moves out of range of the leg kick from Johnson.
Margera fires out a quick counter leg kick but Johnson just manages to avoid it.
Johnson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Margera fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Johnson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Margera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into Margera's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Tarik Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Margera pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.
Johnson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Margera has momentary wrist control but Johnson slips an elbow through the middle.
Margera pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.
Margera tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Margera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Margera is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Margera keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Margera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Margera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Margera blocks nicely.
Johnson lands a couple of elbows.
Margera is adopting a defensive guard.
Margera's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Margera wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Margera is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Margera.
Johnson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Johnson cracks Margera with a good jab.
Margera scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Johnson throws a hook but Margera blocks it.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Margera avoids them all with ease.
Johnson misses with a body punch
and Margera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Margera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Margera moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Johnson catches Margera with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bam Margera.
I think Margera has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Tarik Johnson!
Tarik Johnson is the new lightweight champion!
As Tarik Johnson got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: Its been my dream to win the Title and im going to train as hard as I can in order to never lose it. Nobody can stop me and i am going to retire as the champ of Destiny FC'.